The army has directed its officers not to post their curriculum vitae (CV) on the internet for post-retirement employment while they are serving the armed forces.

The army has directed its officers not to post their curriculum vitae (CV) on the internet for post-retirement employment while they are serving the armed forces.

A letter from the military secretary branch, dated June 5 and addressed to all command headquarters, says, "Of late, requests are being received from officers seeking permission to upload CV/resume on the Internet or to publish/circulate similar data while in service… any such action will tantamount to negotiating for a commercial employment while in service, which, being in contravention to existing policy, cannot be permitted."

With emphasis and warning of action, the letter adds, "As per policy, Defence Services officers are not permitted to negotiate for post-retirement commercial employment in any manner while in service.

"All officers are advised to apply for permission for post-retirement commercial employment, if required, as per policy, only after their retirement."

In the most recent session of Parliament, defence minister AK Antony had told the Rajya Sabha that the government was considering a proposal for barring defence officers from private employment up to five years after retirement.

The recommendation for this came from the Standing Committee on Defence, which had suggested imposing the cooling-off period of five years for brigadiers and above-ranked officers as many of them allegedly work as middlemen for arms or defence equipment companies after retirement.

At present, the cooling-off period is one year, while it was two years earlier. The employment of defence officers in private companies had kicked up a political storm when the then army chief Gen VK Singh (retd) levelled allegations that Lt Gen Tejinder Singh (retd) was lobbying for Tatra trucks and had offered Rs 14 crore as bribe to him to clear procurement.